More on the Right Brain-Left Brain Reunion

...evolutionary biology is a discipline that, to be done right, demands a crossover approach, the capacity to think in narrative and abstract terms simultaneously, so why not use it as a template for emulsifying the two cultures generally? --NATALIE ANGIER, Curriculum Designed to Unite Art and Science, NYTimes, May 28, 2008

In reviewing the curriculum for a new program at Binghamton University, The New Humanities Initiative, George Levine, emeritus professor of English at Rutgers University and author of Darwin Loves You says, "There is a kind of basic illiteracy on both sides, and I find it a thrilling idea that people might be made to take pleasure in crossing the border." (from Angier's article)

Cross the border. Let the reunion of narrative and abstraction begin.

Leading job coach, attorney and author of The Creative Lawyer, Michael Melcher, talks about his experiences with his clients and his recommendation to create a right-brain file: "When people come to me to figure out what to do with the rest of their lives, they typically arrive with one of two mindsets. Either they have lots of ideas, and don’t know how to figure out which one they should pursue; or they don’t have any ideas at all, and want to get some. One method that can help you, regardless of what category you are in, is to create a 'Right-Brain File.'”

The idea is to collect things that interest you -- articles, photos, overheard conversations -- that you are not ready to immediately process, and then to later go look at them to see if there are threads or patterns there. In terms of career or life planning, true interests might emerge, clues to formulating a new strategy for your path.

I don't think this process involves abandoning one's career/study path to date in favor of a subconscious, right-brain dream one has been sublimating all along. An example in terms of career changing/evolving--a friend, who is an extremely left-brained computer chip designer and animal lover, has recently been thinking of going back to school to develop veterinarian technology. What a beautiful marriage of left and right, or left and passion.

Melcher's 'right-brain file' is not unlike the creative writing process--reading, journalling and collecting ideas for what will become a novel, poem or play. Jill McCorkle, novelist and former faculty member at Bennington Writing Seminars, collects her thoughts on scraps of paper that she throws into an old suitcase to simmer while writing a novel. Meredith Hall, author of the memoir Without A Map, also uses the scraps of paper method with a dresser drawer, taking out a random handful when she's ready to sit down and compose. This is when the left brain kicks in--for synthesis, making order, applying structure and the work of crafting words.

I use a journal, a blog, cascading piles, some other part of my brain that has a collection of airline baggage tags on it.

Einstein, I suppose, used the top of his notoriously messy desk.